Late pregnancy in solitude
At eight months pregnant, Ellen was alone in her apartment. Ryan and Sophia were temporarily placed in a child care facility, and visits were only once a week. In the empty apartment, Ellen spoke to her baby belly, “It’s okay, Mommy’s here,” but her voice was shaky. Carol visits occasionally at night to bring food, and although mother and daughter rarely speak to each other, just being in the same space eases their loneliness a little. Whenever the baby in her belly moved, Ellen prayed that she would only be allowed to hold this child.
